For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother
and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:50 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is
no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
Yesterday was my BFFs birthday. She is an extraordinary woman; fierce, funny,
protective, wicked smart, insightful and very wise. Although it was her birthday, she is my gift,
mi familia. The second time I saw her,
she came bearing gifts, in the form of pastries from a local Italian bakery. Usually when a new family moves into your neighborhood,
the welcome wagon welcomes them. She’s
been flipping the script, much to our family’s delight since that very day. You’d think we’d known each other longer than
the four years it’s been. It doesn’t
feel right to imagine my life without her, so I won’t.
I wanted to do something special, something
particularly elegant, to honor her special day. My daughter and I were out shopping, and
brought home a cathedral bundt pan, a bottle of purple Diamond Shimmer Sugar, and
an idea…Lavender Lemon Pound Cake…I thought the batter was the best I’d ever
tasted, until one of my tester cakes came out of the oven. The cake, much like my BFF...legendary…
I love lavender. There is something exotic and
eclectic about putting it in food…and since my BFF and I share a passion for food,
cooking, and quirky and memorable ingredients, it was perfect. In addition to lavender’s richness of fragrance
and taste, Victorian-era women prized lavender for its significance,
representative of purity, silence, devotion, and prudence. Kind of puts you in mind of the fruit of the
spirit, those being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control.
My BFF is all those things, each in their season, but she ain’t no wuss. She’s
one of the best things to come into my life, and the lives of my family,
ever.
Did I mention that my husband, who barely likes
anyone, adores her? Did I mention that my puppy has a crush on her, can’t walk
past her house without pulling towards her door? He tries to sit on her porch whether
she’s home or not, and he knows her car.
Did I mention that she has been appointed our daughter’s other godmother,
with her godmother’s delighted approval? The two, who’ve become friends,
collaborate on what’s good, and what needs effort, when it comes to her, and to
me. My son calls her son “his brother
from another mother,” which is both about her, and her young man. That’s love.
That’s family. That’s my BFF. It
may have been her birthday, but she is my gift, mi familia, my blessing.
She showed up in my driveway, became my friend,
and is now an indelible part of our world, forever. Thank You, God, for the gift of such a
friendship. Because on my good days, my
great days, and most importantly the days I’m sure I will not get through, I
remember that in her, you have blessed me mightily. Just today’s reminder from
the Universe that God is Good.
Today’s feast: Recipe for a Happy New Year
Back Story~ For now, the recipe for my BFF’s
Lemon Lavender Pound Cake, remains quite the secret. Instead I offer a tribute to her and to you for a year
of grace. Happy Birthday to my road dawg, partner in
crime, Betty Rubble to my Wilma, etc. I LOVE YOU, MAN! hugs, kisses, and
blessings!
Recipe for a Happy New Year:
Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are
thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them
completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and
littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have
them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.
Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make
up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way)
but prepare one day at a time.
Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience,
courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the
rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like
leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation,
and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits,
a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of
good humor.
Oh I bet ya'll had an exciting time, the cake looks sooooooooo good ;)
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